Method of and device for holding metal rims while shrinking



Oct. 28 1924. 1,513,666

- B. WOBLER METHOD OF AND DEVICE FOR HOLDING METAL RIMS WHILE SHRINKINGFiled Sept. 30 1922 'lliiillli 'barnza Uobl v INVENTOR ATTORNEY PatentedOct. 28, 1924.

BARNEY WOBLER, OF PAYNE, OHIO.

. METHOD OF AND DEVICE FOR HOLDING METAL RIMS WHILE SI-IBINKING.

Application filed September 30, 1922. Serial No. 591,678;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BARNEY VVOBLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Payne, in the county of Paulding and State 6 of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Method of and Device for Holding Metal RimsWhile Shrinking, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for hold- 10 ing metal rims forautomobile wheels in true alinement while the same are being acted on bya shrinking machine, and the method of shrinking the rims through suchdevices.

The object is to provide a simple device for the purpose, consisting ofa pair of keys or filler blocks, which may be driven into frictionalcontact between the upstanding, curved flanges of the metal wheel-rims,such as are commonly employed on automobile wheels, after the said rimhas been preheated at the desired point, the rim being then placed inposition in any shrinking machine to be acted on thereby to shrink andreduce the diameter of the rim, in order that it may properly fit aroundthe wooden felly of the wheel, the said keys serving to maintain thesaid flanges in perfect alinement and parallelism during the heating andcooling processes.

In carrying out the invention, I provide a pair of key members for thispurpose which may be easily introduced on the metal rim between the saidflanges, the members being curved longitudinally to fit the shape of therim and having meeting inclined edges which, when the members are drivenin opposite directions cause them to spread and contact with the innerfaces of the flanges, their outer edges being rounded to contacttherewith at all points and prevent any distortion thereof, the said keymembers being provided with means for readily withdrawing the same fromtheir position on the rim after the same has been shrunk and becomecoo-led.

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained froma consideration of the following detailed description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisspecification; it being understood that while the drawing shows apractical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to strictconformity with the showing thereof, but may be changed or modified, solong as such changes or modifications mark no material departure fromthe salient features of the invention, as specifically pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the drawing, in which similar reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several figures Fig. 1 is a plan viewof a metal rim having the improved device in position thereon.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same on line 22 of Fig.1.

Fig 8 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the two members comprising theinvention and shown separated.

In the continued use of automobileand other vehicle wheels, the metalrims often become loose on the wooden felly of the wheel, due toexpansion of said rim or other causes, such as the wear of the 'fellycaused by creeping of the rim, etc., thus resulting in the loosening ofthe spokes and the sections of the felly and rendering it advisable todiscard the wheel. Means have heretofore been employed for shrinking themetal rim to take up the excess in diameter thereof, but since thisshrinking process is done at different points around the circumferenceof the metal rim, it often happens. that the rim is distorted'laterallyso that the same will not properly fit the felly norv run true after theparts have again been assembled. It has been found by experience that,with the use of the present invention, these disadvantages may be easilyavoided, and the metal rim may be properly shrunk to fit the wheel andat the same time maintain the arcuately curved flanges or heads ateither side of the rim in. perfect parallel alinement for replacement onthe felly, and to receive the beads of the pneumatic tire in the propermanner.

The invention consists in a pair of elonk tit) gated keys or Wedges 1having their outer edges 2 parallel when the same are placed inoperative position in abutting relation to each other, the said outeredges being rounded, as shown, to snugly flt within the annular beads orflanges 3 of an automobile rim 4, which are always turned inwardly for adistance to engage the beads of a tire (not shown).

The inner edges 5 of the keys or wedges which fit flat against eachother throughout the lengths of the wedges, are perpendicular to thewidths of the same and are at a slight angle to the length thereof, toprovide a relatively narrow toe portion 6 and wider heel portion 7 oneach key or wedge, the two members being curved throughout their lengthsto conform to the arc of the circle corresponding to the rim on whichthey are to be used.

The heel end 7 of each key is provided with an integrally formed,upstanding lug 8, the inner face of Which is flush with the innerperpendicular edge 5 thereof and the outer face of the same is spacedfrom the rounded outer edge 2 of the key, so that the said lugs 8 mayavoid contact with the inner, overhanging edge of the flanges 3 of therim, and stand radially outward beyond the same in position to be freelyhit by a hammer to drive the keys into position at the proper locationaround the rim or to be driven out of their engagement.

In the operation of shrinking the rim 4, which may be assumed to be toolarge for the vehicle wheel, it is customary to heat the rim at the onepoint Where it is to: be oper ated on by the shrinking machine, whichmay be any of the well-known makes, such heating being only to a degreeto properly render the metal sufficiently pliable for the purpose. Thekeys or wedges of the present invention are then placed on the rim inextended position relatively to each other, so that they may freelyenter beneath the overhanging flanges 3, and they are then rela tivelyadvanced until the inner edges 5 contact and the rounded outer edges 2snugly fit within the sides of the rim, when they may be lightlyhammered to lock the wedges therein. The tire is then placed in theshrinking machine with the heated portion having the keys or wedgestherein in the proper position for the action of the shrinker. The keysor wedges effectually prevent any lateral distortion of the rim, or themarginal flange-s thereof while in the shrinker or afterward, as thedevice is left on the rim until the same is cooled, when they may beeasily and quickly driven out by reason of the terminal lugs 8. If itshould become necessary to repeat this operation at several pointsaround the circumference of the rim to secure the required amount ofshrinkage, then the same course is pursued.

When applying the rim to the felly of the wheel again, it is necessaryto heat the same uniformly to cause it to expand generally, when thesame is placed over the wheel, in a well-known manner, and allowed tocool thereon, whereupon the natural shrinkage serves to maintain the rimon the wheel.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a very simple, cheaplymanufactured and easily operated means has been provided for use inconnection with the shrinking of automobile or other vehicle wheel rims,which, experience has shown, prevents the rim from becoming distorted inany manner while the powerful action of the shrinking machine is beingexerted thereon, the keys or wedges having the. advantage of beingreadily placed in position for action, and as easily removed from therim when the operation is complete.

What is claimed is 1. Means for preventing the flanges of metal wheelrims from lateral distortion while being shrunk, comprising coactingremovable members shaped so as to fit between and engage the flanges ofthe rim and to be retained therein during shrinking.

2. Means for preventing lateral distortion of metal wheel rims whileshrinking the same, comprising coacting keys, each curved longitudinallyto conform to the curvature of the rim and having inner flat oppositelytapered contacting faces, and oppositely disposed outer faces engageablethroughout their length with the flanges of the rim to preventdistortion of the latter while being shrunk.

3. In a device of the class described, a pair of coacting wedge membersshaped soas to fit between the flanges of a metal rim and to be retainedin place by a wedging action while the rim is being shrunk.

4:. In a device of the. class described, a pair of coacting memberscurved longitudinally to conform to the curvature of the rim and havingtheir meeting longitudinal faces in clined and their outer longitudinalfaces so disposed as to engage the flanges of a metal rim and to beretained in place by a wedging action.

5. In a deviceof the class described, 00- acting members curvedlongitudinally to conform to the curvature of the rim, and having, whenassembled, oppositely disposed faces which bear throughout their lengthagainst the flanges of the rim.

6. Means for preventing lateral distortion of wheel rims while shrinkingthe same, comprising coacting keys each being curved to conform to a.portion of the rim, and having inner flat, oppositely-tapered, coactingedges and parallel outer edges rounded to fit beneath the overhangingflanges of the rim, and each key having an upstanding lug at its widerend to facilitate driving the keys ten into fri'ctionally-lockedposition on the rim and to remove the same therefrom.

7. The method of shrinking met-a1 Wheel rims Which consists in heatingthe rim at one point, then driving oppositely-tapered, coacting Wedgesbetween the flanges at the heated point, then subjecting this portion ofthe rim to the action of a shrinking machine, and then removing theWedges and allowing the rim to cool.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoafiixed my signature.

BARNEY WOBLER.

